North Pier Blackpool: History & Things to Do

Blackpool’s piers are some of the town’s most iconic landmarks, and each of the three has something to offer to both locals and visitors. One of the piers is the North Pier, originally known as the Blackpool Pier, as it was the first of the three piers. The following is an overview of the things to do at North Pier, a timeline of its history, and some fun facts about the North Pier Blackpool you might not know.

Key Information About Blackpool’s North Pier

Where Is North Pier Blackpool?

The North Pier is at the northern end of Blackpool’s coastline in the town’s Warbreck area, and it extends into the Irish Sea. Although it was originally called Blackpool Pier when it was the town’s only jetty, it became known as the North Pier when two more piers (Central Pier and South Pier) were built. Each of the piers was named for its position on the coast. The pier is close to many other things to do in Blackpool and also close to some of the town’s best restaurants.

• Address: North Pier, Promenade, Blackpool, FY1 5BB
• Website: http://blackpoolpiers.co.uk/piers/north-pier

When Was North Pier Built?

Construction of North Pier began in the early 1860s, costing £11,740. It has been open to the public since 1863.

Who Designed North Pier Blackpool?

The 19th-century seaside architect Eugenius Birch was the designer of the North Pier. It is the oldest example of Birch’s work still in use, and it is a Grade II listed structure.

What Are the Characteristics?

North Pier in Blackpool is a pleasure pier with a landing jetty that is 550 yards/ 500 metres long. It is a cast-iron structure with cast-iron screw piles that extend into the rock bed below the sand. The pier has a wooden deck.

What Are the Opening Times at North Pier Blackpool?

North Pier is open 24 hours a day throughout the year. However, only some attractions are open at all times of day and night, so you should check the specific attractions before your visit.

Does the Pier Have an Entrance Fee?

There is no entrance fee to access the pier and take a walk. However, there are costs for some of the pier’s attractions.

Things to Do at North Pier Blackpool

There are many things to do at North Pier Blackpool, as it is more than just a place to take a walk and admire the sea views. It is now one of Blackpool’s most popular outdoor activities. Some of the current attractions and facilities at the North Pier are:

• The Joe Longthorne Theatre (formerly The North Pier Theatre)
• A gypsy palm reader
• Amusement arcades
• The Carousel Bar and Merrie England Bar
• A Victorian tearoom
• A two-tiered Venetian carousel
• The heritage room with a photograph exhibition
• A live organist in the sun lounge

The History of North Pier: 19th Century

A question that many people ask is, “which was the first pier built in Blackpool?” The answer is that the first pier built in Blackpool was North Pier. Therefore, it is the oldest pier in Blackpool, as it was the only pier in Blackpool when it was built, and the pier’s true name is Blackpool Pier. It later became known as North Pier following the construction of the other two piers, and its name reflects its position at the northern end of the town’s coast.

Eugenius Birch designed the pier, which was built in the 1860s. Originally, the purpose of the pier was as a promenade. However, competition between the three piers and other local attractions meant that the various owners later added multiple activities and attractions to the North Pier.

The cast iron pier has a wooden deck that was originally 428 metres long. When the pier opened in 1863, there was a 46-metre section of the pier incomplete. Between 1864 and 1867, construction continued to add a 144-metre jetty section, bringing the full length of the pier to around 550 metres.

North Pier served pleasure steamers during the late 19th century, and people also used it for diving and swimming. A pierhead with a pavilion was added in 1877, followed by hexagonal-shaped kiosks in the 1900s.

Disaster struck in 1892 when a storm-damaged ship hit the side of the pier. The crash caused some shops and a section of the deck to fall onto the beach. A ship moored to the pier came loose in a storm five years later, damaging part of the pier.

20th-Century History of the Pier

In 1921, the Indian Pavilion suffered extensive damage in a fire. The owners refurbished the pavilion after a second fire struck in 1938. A year later, a theatre replaced the pavilion. The theatre narrowly escaped fire damage in an incident in 1985.

The pier now has multiple attractions, so it is one of the best things to do in Blackpool. It boasts traditional fairground rides, a theatre, palm readers, a Victorian tearoom, an arcade, and an ice cream parlour. The pier’s owners, the Six Piers Group, already owned Blackpool’s other two piers, and they bought North Pier as a more tranquil offering to the Central and South Piers.

Timeline of the History of North Pier Blackpool

YEAR	EVENT
1862	North Pier was designed by Eugenius Birch and construction began
1863	North Pier opened to the public
1864-1867	A landing jetty was added to North Pier Blackpool
1895	North Pier closed for the winter as it was unsafe. The owners added electric lighting during the closure.
1897	Storms caused HMS Foudroyant to slip its anchor and damage North Pier’s jetty
1903	The addition of the Arcade Pavilion
1921	A fire in 1921 caused damage to the Indian Pavilion
1932-1933	A stage and sun lounge replaced the open-air stand
1936	A pleasure steamer hit the pier on its return journey from Llandudno, creating a gap that left people stranded at the far end of the pier.
1938	The Indian Pavilion was damaged by a second fire in 1938
1939	An Art Deco-style theatre was built to replace the fire-damaged pavilion, and a bandstand became a replacement for the original sun lounge
1960s	An amusement arcade and the Merrie England bar were added
1985	The pier was struck by another fire, but it was quickly tackled to prevent damage to the theatre.
The late 1980s	A helipad was added to the end of the jetty, which no longer had nautical uses
1991	Additions in 1991 were the Carousel Bar and a small tramway
1997	A storm on Christmas Eve destroyed the helipad and landing jetty
1998	Leisure Parks bought the Resorts Division of First Leisure, including the North Pier, for £74 million
2002	The Heritage Room, featuring a photograph display, opened
2004	North Pier won the Pier of the Year Award from the National Piers Society
2009	The Six Piers group, who own Blackpool’s Central and South piers, bought North Pier and added the Victorian tearoom and a shuttle.
2011	Local man Peter Sedgwick bought the pier

Fun Facts About the Pier

• It is the longest and the oldest of the three piers in Blackpool, built five years before Central Pier and 30 years before South Pier.
• The North Pier has suffered damage by fire on three occasions.
• The pier’s theatre has 1,564 seats.
• Some famous people who have performed at the theatre include Morecambe & Wise, Freddie Starr, Bruce Forsyth, Cannon & Ball, Joe Longthorne, Russ Abbot, Frankie Vaughan, Tessie O’Shea, Frank Randle, Paul Daniels, Dave Morris, Des O’Connor, Brian Conley, Bernard Delfont, Lily Savage, and Hale & Pace.
• The current owner, Peter Sedgwick, proposed to his wife on North Pier Blackpool and promised he would buy it for her one day.
• Sooty is a famous puppet that was first used by Harry Corbett in his shows on the pier, and he bought the first puppet on North Pier. Corbett gave the puppet to his son, Matthew, who also became an entertainer.
• One of the first Sooty puppets is on display at the pier.